Sheet-feeding device



2 1, t /7 5, v Z,

m .x ,E 2 a, E. m m w z @ma z, A T. .y aan .m m. V E J m Y, f Hlm.. e m n f 7 w F E. .5 z. Y* l'l.ml."l\ v .L /ilMr// 4 a ,1u l Il. l Z Z 5MM ,2,

am z 5H 2 1010. .9, hc

' attenta;

March 9 5 .1926. n H. v. ASHBY SHEET yFEEDING DEV'ICE 2 Sheets-Shet Filed July 6, 1923 MNQ K Hm. Y

Hanny, v.l ASHBY, oranni, PENNSYLVANIA, zAssis-Non or cnn-HALF Asiiisayor NEW YORK, N. Y.

iro DWARDB.

Application 'filed Jul-y 6,

' 10 larly to pneumatic meansk i'or separating and lifting sheets singlyv from a pile.

The object of this-invention isto provide a simple and effective sheet separating and liftingdevice adapted for use in sheet feeding machines generally, but vmore particularly designedv as a substitute for the sheet lifting mechanism of the colla'ting machine described. and claimed iii-my copending'application, Serial `Nef631,921), tiled Aprill 13,

1925?.y The machine described in this appli-y cation comprises a frame, a set of. conveyor tapes'mountedin the traine and adapted to convey 'sheetsin sets to a common receptacle,

2 a plurality of supporter trays, each adapted conveyor tapes at longitudinally spaced positioneren the 1rame,a sheet lifter for each. pile of sheets adaptedto lift sheets singly by meansv of suction nozzles, and a set ,of sheet grippers forN each sheet lifteradapt'ed to grasp the'lifted sheet and convey it to. la suitable point above the conveyor tapes and then permit the sheet to fall thereon.. In the oper-ation of. this machine some trouble' has been esperienced in properly separating the top sheet, of the pile', and sometimes two` or more sheets would be` lifted'simultaneously'from the sainepile. The present invention is thel successful result 'oi' an .eilertto overcome this'l-difliculty, -and provides'in combination with thesuc-l tion nozzles a yplurality oit' blastnozzles, sonic of which .are directed toy deliver blasts' downwardly on the margin ot the top sheets to separate any 'sheets which may adhere to the top sheet, and others oit which are directed to deliver blasts against theedge ofthe sli-eet substantially in theplane there-. .of to positivelylift and separate said top sheet.l The top sheet of the pile is thus y6-46 of `Figa 3. i

to hold a pile of. sheets, mounted above theT tudinal frame bars 10; a tray 11 supported said bars linvany suitable manner and. `adapted to hold a pile of sheets; and a pair 'sheet pile.

1923. semaine. 649,964.

' effectively lseparated and caused to adhere to the-lifter by the suction nozzles. Referring'to; the accompanying drawings `for a particular description of one forni of the invention: e

Fig-1 is a fragmentary perspective View of a sheet -feeding machine having my improved sheet lifter applied thereto.

Figa '2 is a transverse sectional View of said'machine f Fig.3 is a vertical longitudinal sectionall view of thesheet lifter.

'Eigfll is a bottom plan View of the lifter.

Figsa' and 6 are transverse lvertical 'setional vie'vvs'taken on 'the lines 5-5 and 65 .-As 'theprjesent'iiivention is limited te thel sheet lifting mechanism per se, only so j -.much of a sheet feeding machine'is illustrated bythe drawings as Will conveniently' 70 serve/'- to show the application of vthe sheet lifting mechanism, The machine fragmentarily illustrated .is"itul1y' shoW n and described in my co-pending application' referred .to above. It comprises two longiof transversely aligned 'pillars 12, in which reciprocatien above the forward edge of the T hesheet lifter comprises an elongated bar -18 provided with 'suitable nozzles andv channels forsnbjecting'the top sheet or the pile to suction and separating blasts; The ends of bar 13 are mounted in` Asubstantially vertical slots formed in the .opposedaces of pillars 12 and are. adapted i to be reciprocated4 in. said ,slots by mecha" nism shown in detail inmy co-pendingapf plication. Said mechanism comprises a longitudinal reciprocating pitman 14: which has al one-way .connection Witha shaft .15 journaled in'rearward'etensionsl of the pillars 12. In the drawings, the one-way connection compitisesan arm 17 loosely mounted on the end of shaft 15 and having its outer or lower end articulated with` pit-f man 14, an arm A18 lix'ed tosliaft '15 and having a flange 19 adapted to be engaged 100 links 21 connecting the free ends of arms 2O to bar 13. This 0neway connection causes bar 13 to be positively raised when with the two central suction nozzles,

. of elboweonnections 31.

bar 13to fall by gravity when pitman 14 is moved rearwardly. Thus the downward movement of bar` 13 is automatically accommodated to the height of the sheet pile iry'pitman 14 is moved forwardly but permits respective of the rearward throw of pit-. '1nan'14.

Referring now to Figs. 3 to 6, inclusive, for a description of the specific structure of the sheet separator and lifter, bar 13 has formed therein two interior longitudinal conduits 22 and 23. Conduit 22 communicatejs withl a pipe 24 by means of a flexible connection 25, and conduit 23 communicates with a pipe 26 by means of a flexible conneetion 27. Pipes 24 and 26 are supported in the upper ends of pillars l2 and are suitably connected toa suction pump and a blower, respectively, whereby suction is supplied to` -eonduig 22 and compressed air to conduit 23. Iormed with, or otherwise attached to, the lower faceV of bar 13 are a plurality of downwardly projecting eX- tensions 28 provided with bores communicating with-conduit 22 and opening through flared mouths in substantially the same horizontal plane.` These are the suction nozzles of the lifter. Combined with each of the suction nozzles is a blast nozzle 29 or 30, the said blast nozzles communicating with the compressed air conduit 23 by means -Nozzles 29 are directed so asto deliver blasts downwardly on the marginal edges yof the top sheets, thereby functioning to force down and away from the top sheet, any sheets which may adhere thereto." Nozzles 30 are directed so as to deliver blasts against the edges of the top sheets and thereby positively force airv between the top sheets to hold the top sheety separated from the next sheet. In theiillustration, there are two nozzles 30 associated and the remainder of the suction nozzles have associated therewith buckling nozzles 29. This arrangement, of course, maybe varied ac cording to the conditions.v All or any dei sired number of the nozzles may be eut out of action selectively as required, by -providing'cocks-32 in the elbowconnecton and suction nozzles.

In order to limit the buckling of the vsheet between adjacent nozzles, the lower ends of the nozzles are connected by a bar 35, the lower edge of which is spaced slightly above the ends ofthe nozzles. In this `manner the front edge ofthe sheet is held horizontal so that none of the grippers 33 will fail to seize4 the sheet.

When the sheets are raised by the sheet lifter the forward edges thereof are grasped by grippers 33 which are reci y operated in timed relationto t ie sheet lifters. After the sheet is grasped by the griprocatcd and pers the suction in'channel 22 is broken and the grippers 'movel forward transferring the sheets to positions over ning tapes receptacle'. Pending arr mechanism for the grippers, lifters.

the-constantly run- 'y 34 to be conveyed to acommon Refer-ence may be had to my cotion for more detailed yde scrlption andffshowing of the operating tapes andshect- Various changes may of cours'ebe made in the construction of the sheetv lifter shown by the` drawings without substantially varyingv the mode of l-ioperation thereof,y .A Havin thus described the invention, what is claim as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In sheet feeding mechanism, a frame having means for supporting a pile of sheets,

a transverse bar mounted' to reciprocate. up

and down vabove said support, mechanism for reciprocating said bar including a oneway connection adapted to positively raise said-bar and`permit it to fall, by gravity,

said bar having two interior separated conduits extending longitudinally thereof, flexible connections forsupplying suction in one,

of said conduits and compressed lair in the other, a plurality of nozzles extending'downwardly from said barcommunicating with said suction conduit, and a plurality of nozzles communicating with said compressed 1 air conduit directed at different angles to deliver air blasts obliquely-.andhorizontally against the edges of the sheets.' I

2. In sheet feeding mechanism, a frame,

a support for a pile of sheets on said frame,

a transverse bar mounted to reciprocate up and down above said support, 'mechanism for reciprocating said bar, said -bar having two `interior separated conduits extending longitudinally thereof, connections for supplying. suction in one of said conduits and compressed air-in the other, and a plurality of suction and .blastnozzles connected to said 4bar and communicating with said conduits respectively, said blast nozzles being Vdirected 'at different angles to .deliver a plurality of blasts obliquely to the plane of the sheets and a plurality-'of blasts substantially in the plane of the sheets 3:.In sheet feeding mechanism', a unitary y 4sheet separator and lifter comprising an elongatedmem er adapted to extend paralleland adjacent to the edge of a' pile of sheets and "having two vseparated interior conduits extending longitudinally thereof adapted to be connected toarsuction and `blast source"A respectively, said member also having a-plurality ofd'ownwardly extending4 conduits opening in the same plane and coin- `mumcatlng with the longitudmal suction conduit and a plurality ofl conduits comhaving a plurality =of downwardly'extending muiiicating with the longitudinal blast conduit and opening atjdiiferent angles to the;

plane of the sheets-.

ll. Iii-.sheetfeeding-ineclianisin, a unitary sheet separatorv andl'i-ftei'- comprising 'a 'rigid lel and'adjacent to the edge of a pile of sheets, said n iember4 having tivo interior separated conduits longitudinally thereof adapted to be connected to'a. suctionand blast sourcerespectively, said 'member also conduitsopeiiing in the sameplaneand com* munir-,ating with the y. longitudinal Suction conduit and a plurality of conduits coniinunicating with the longitudinal blast con duit and directed todeliverair blasts against the edges ofthe sheets and at difeient augles' totlie planethereof.- "f l 5.' In sheet feediiig' ineclianismj, `a"sup;

port fora pile of sheets,` a-:bar mounted abovesaid support to 'reciprocate' upv andx down, said bar havingltwo interior longi A tudinal conduits separated ,from each` other and adapted to bel eonnectedto a suction and 'bla st source fresp'ectvely, a plurality of nozzles communicatingwith the suction conduit extending downwardlyy and opening in the saine plane vand a .i plurality of' nozzles f communicating with the'. blastconduit, some1' of said last named vnozzles'*being directed to blow'air obliquelyponthetp slieetbf the pile and others of said nozz es being dis rected toblow air substantially horizontally against the edge of said sheet,

6. In sheet feeding'me'chanism', a unitary sheet separa-tor and lifter comprising a rigid elongated member adapted to extend paral-- leland adjacent to the edge of a pile of sheets and having tivo'separafted interior conduits extending longitudinally thereof vadapted to be connected to a suction and blast source respectively, said member also having a plu-,` rality of downwardly extending suction and blast nozzles connected 1 with `said longitu-u dinal conduits` respectively, said blast nozzles being directed todeliver blasts against the edges of the sheets andat different anglesto the plane thereof.

7. In sheet feeding mechanism, a unitary i sheet separator and lifter comprising a. rigid elongated member adapted to extend parallel and` adjacent tothe edge of apilc of sheets and having two separated interior conduits extending longitudinally thereof adapted to be connected'to a suction and blast source respectively, said member also comprising a plurality of-pa-irs. of downwardly extending suction and blast nozzles communicating with said-longitudinal conduits, the iiozz'lesiof each pair being lol cated in a plane substantiallyperpendicuc sheet separator and lifter comprising a rigid lar to the front edges of the sheets.

8. In sheet feeding mechanism, a unitary elongatedV b ar adapted. .te exleiid parallel and adjacent to the edgeof a 'pile of sheets land having tivo separated interior conduits ari.

extending longitudinally,thereof adapted toA v' Abe connected to i/suction and blast source respectively,- a plurality o f suction nozzles' extending downwardly from said bar and Y vcoiiiiiiiinicating with the longitudinal suction conduit, and afplura'lity l'ofblzist nozj- Izlcs communicating with the compressed air conduit and rigidly connected at their lower .ends'to said suction nozzles and dir-cried .to j

deliver blasts againstthe edges of the sheetsA 'andat different angles to the plane thereof.

9. In sheet'feeding mechanism, a support fora *piley of sheets, a plurality of rigidly.l

soE

connected combined suction andblast nozzles mountedtoreciprocate 'up and vdown above said support, saidsuction nozzles be- I -ing directed substantially vertically vand said `tionnozzles and directed at different angles l extending longitudinally thereof and l'iaving openingsiinto said conduits for connecting tlie same to suction andblastsources lrespecti-vely, la plurality of suction nozzlesextending at right angles to said bar communieating Witlitlie suction conduit 'and o'p'eir ing ind the sameplaiie, and aplurality of blast nozzles communicating with the' blast conduit and opening at different angles to the plane of said suction nozzles.

l2. As an 'articlevof manufacture, a sheet separator and lifter comprising. an elongated bar having two interior separate conduits y 'ertending longitudinally thereof and hav.-

ing openings into said conduits for connecting the same with suction and blastsources respectively, and combined suction and blast nozzles rigidly connected to` said bar 'and communicating with-said .conduits 13. As an article of manufacture, a `sheetseparator and lifter comprising an elongated bar having two interior separate conduits iis' extending longitudinally thereof and having openings into said conduitsffor connecting the same to suction and blast'sources respectively, aplurality of rigid suction nozzles4 projecting at right angles from said bar and opening in the saine plane, bars connecting 'the lower ends of said suction nozzles, and-'a plurality of blastv nozzles communicating `separator' and lifter comprisingan elongated bar having two interiorv separate conduits extending longitudinally-thereof and hav'- ,ing openings into said conduits 'for connecting the saine to blast and suction sources relspectlyely, combined suction and-blast nozzles rigldly connected to said at spaced pointsthereoi'and communicating With said i ,conduits, and connections between the lower endsot said nozzles.

15. As an article ofl,niainlfactuie,l a sheet.

separator and lifter comprising an elongated bar having two interior separate conduits 20 extending longitudinally thereoi:l and having openings .into said conduits `for connecting the same to suction andblast sources respecsaine plane and communicating 'With the longitudinal suction conduit, a plurality of blast nozzles communicating with the longitudinal blast conduit and rigidly connected to said suction nozzles, some of said blast nozzles opening at substantially right anles to said suction nozzles and others opening at an acute angle thereto, and valves in the suction and blast nozzle connections for selectively cutting out of action any desired number of said nozzles.

In testimony whereof l hereunto affix my signature.`

Hannity. AsHBY. 

